Khulna health services paralysed
Khulna Bureau :
Health services in 9 upazilas of Khulna have been paralysed by the agitation of outsourcing employees. Sick patients and their relatives who came to seek services have been facing extreme suffering.
On Wednesday, the agitating outsourcing employees came to Khulna and held a sit-in, human chain and rally program in front of the Civil Surgeon’s office on Shamsur Rahman Road in the city. From 12 noon to 5 pm, they sat and raised slogans and gave speeches.
They alleged that the Khulna Civil Surgeon had written a letter on July 29 stating that he was not responsible for paying the salaries of the outsourced employees as they did not have jobs.
214 employees in Khulna Sadar and 9 upazilas have been working without pay for 13 months. They are tirelessly cleaning various places including the emergency department, outpatient department, wards, kitchens and other places of the hospital. Doctors at the police station health complex have given certificates in support of their uninterrupted work.
The speakers said that they were supposed to send a letter of extension of their tenure in July-August at the beginning of the fiscal year. But accountant Mahfuz withheld the letter and called the contractors in June at the end of the fiscal year and demanded money. He is trying to get them to work by transacting a large amount of money with another contracting company.
The contract signed by the contractor with the civil surgeon states that the old employees will work until the next contractor is appointed.
Three demands were announced from the rally. The demands are – the outstanding 13 months’ salary should be paid immediately, they should be retained in their jobs and the corrupt accountant Mahfuz should be permanently removed within the next 3 working days.
The program was addressed by ward boy Al Amin working at Paikgachha Upazila Health Complex, Nanny Tapu Mallick of Batiaghata Health Complex, ward boy Mahbubur Rahman of Koyra Health Complex, Rana Biswas and Gautam Biswas.
Khulna Civil Surgeon Dr. Mahfuza Khanam said, outsourcing employees were working in Rathana Health Complexes. It is unfair to demand their salary. I have informed the ministry about the matter.